Ward was South Carolina’s sole defensive coordinator from 2012-2014, and shared the role with Jon Hoke in 2015. He was not retained after Willl Muschamp was hired as head coach.

Ward spent the 2016 season at Fresno State as defensive coordinator, where the Bulldogs were No. 68 in the country in total defense in 2016, allowing 415.1 yards per game.

Ward will take over assistant head coaching duties for the Cardinals as well as primary head coaching duties for the secondary.

The Cardinals will need all the help they can get on the defensive side of the ball, they gave up 106 points the final three games of the season—all resulting in losses, including a 29-9 rout at the hands of LSU in the Citrus Bowl.